Lady’s West Sussex Weekend Guide

Sometimes I spend so much time traveling abroad I forget how much there is to do within an hour of London. But when I get a reminder, I’m amazed at the breadth of things to see right here in England. Today I’ve found myself on a West Sussex weekend getaway. There are 5 places I want to visit.

West Sussex Weekend

I’m in West Sussex for the weekend with my boyfriend and friends, two of whom live here. They’ve offered to play tour guides for the weekend, and we’re excited to see the highlights of the county through local eyes.

1. Charlton, West Sussex

The first thing on our West Sussex weekend itinerary is a drive to a picture-pretty village called Charlton.

Thatched-roof cottages are covered in roses, and a lone red phone box adds a splash of color to storybook brick houses along narrow lanes.

We’re in Charlton for lunch at a beloved pub called The Fox Goes Free. It’s one of those 400-year-old country specials with a maze of dark wood interiors and ceilings so low that even I start to duck.

But it’s summer, so we head straight out to the picnic tables in the garden. Overlooking a sheep-filled pasture, it can’t get more idyllic.

Add to that impressively good food, and we’re sold. I can already tell this is going to be one of my favorite country breaks near London.

2. South Downs Way in West Sussex

After (over) indulging at lunch, we find ourselves in need of some exercise. Conveniently, the renowned South Downs Way is nearby. Stretching from Winchester to Eastbourne, this long-distance footpath is one of the most scenic in England.

We hop on in the middle of the South Downs Way in West Sussex, spending a couple hours on a country walk up and down hills, through fields, and along pastures. It’s one of the best walks in the area.

The views are expansive, revealing everything from rolling green farmland to pointy church steeples. Best of all, the chaos of urban life is nowhere in sight. It’s a highlight of our West Sussex weekend escape.

3. Petworth, West Sussex

The next morning we’re off to the third of the 5 spots we want to visit during our West Sussex weekend: Petworth. It’s one of the most beautiful places in England, and I can’t wait to see it.

This lovely town is another storybook special. Half-timbered shopfronts full of antiques give way to pretty churchyards and cobbled squares, while sweet historic pubs with rooms like The Angel Inn serve delicious Sunday roasts.

I could spend all day soaking up the English charm in this West Sussex town, especially on Lombard Street, where flowers spill out of pastel facades.

4. Petworth House, West Sussex

But the real treat here is a visit to Petworth House, a 17th-century stately home and National Trust property right in the center of town. And it’s not just any mansion, either.

It houses one of the best art collections I’ve ever seen in a place of its kind, and it’s a highlight of our West Sussex weekend.

The beautiful state rooms are packed with works by Turner, Reynolds, Gainsborough, and Van Dyck, as well as mesmerizing carvings by acclaimed woodworker Grinling Gibbons.

Outside the front of the house, the town of Petworth is a distant memory. The home opens onto a 700-acre deer park designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, one of England’s most famous landscape architects.

5. Goodwood, West Sussex

Leaving Petworth, we travel to the last stop on our West Sussex weekend itinerary: Goodwood. Famous for car racing and horse racing, Goodwood has also featured in Downton Abbey.

We spend some time walking around the grounds, exploring the racetracks and watching planes take off from the airfield. It reminds me of the time I came here for Glorious Goodwood.

West Sussex Weekend Getaway

And soon it’s time for us to take off, too. We hop on a train back to London, the countryside melting away as urban landscapes come ever closer into view.

An hour later we’re in skyscraper territory and it’s hard to believe that our West Sussex weekend getaway was so nearby. Next time I’m tempted to hop on a plane to escape urban life, I’ll consider a closer option instead.

Have you been here? How would you spend a West Sussex weekend?

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